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Aston Villa have confirmed the signing of West Ham defender James Collins for a fee believed to in the region of £5m.

Villa agreed a fee on Tuesday morning and the 26-year-old Wales international later accepted personal terms.

“It’s been a mad 24 hours since coming up here but I’m delighted to have it all sorted,” said Collins. “I came yesterday and met the manager and had a look around. It’s a fantastic setting. I just can’t wait to get cracking now.

“Aston Villa are a massive club so after coming here looking around the place – and I’m friendly with a few of the boys as well – it didn’t take a lot of persuading on my part.”

Collins has been at Villa’s Bodymoor Heath training ground and is undergoing a medical before finalising personal terms.

A statement posted earlier today on the club’s official website said: “Villa have agreed a fee with West Ham United for defender James Collins.

“The Welsh international is now discussing personal terms and must also complete a medical.”

The player, capped 28 times by his country, made 86 appearances for Cardiff before moving to Upton Park in 2005 along with team-mate Danny Gabbidon.

How has the Champions League group draw affected the outright betting? See all the latest here.

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